Aged care fears

PROPOSED changes of the boundary between Melville/Canning to Vahland Avenue could have catastrophic effects on the aged/community care provided by the City of Canning.

Thousands of people receive accommodation and support from the offices and buildings in Herald Avenue.

If these move to Melville, who will pay for these services to be retained?

Canning receives $11 million a year in State and federal funding to deliver these services. This funding is not transferable along with the buildings, so unless Melville plans to fund these services from its own reserves, how will these services continue.

Canning has a long and successful history of providing care and support. For example, Canning Lodge, which looks after 42 frail and vulnerable residents, has just passed another three-year accreditation.

This outrageous about-face by the Local Government Advisory Board begs the question who is the board listening to; certainly not the people of Canning.

Through three public meetings and thousands of submissions, the people of Canning and the council have overwhelmingly declared that they want Canning retained as a successful and sustainable local government.

The reform process is becoming less democratic as it proceeds, with some interested parties having their wishes granted over others.

It seems as though, to paraphrase George Orwell, all people are created equal, but if you live in Melville and have the support of Dr Nahan, then you are more equal than others.

DEREK LANE, Riverton